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Even though education costs have risen during the recession – inciting protests on some campuses – many people are finding new ways to avoid these costs and are taking advantage of the opportunity to go back to school. Whether you are out of work or not, this may be the perfect time to continue your education.

Although unknown to some, there are a variety of available resources that are making it possible to overcome the financial barriers associated with continuing education.

For Virginia Platt, 53, who lives in Pawtucket, R.I., going back to school was necessary after she lost her job. She had worked for 35 years in the manufacturing industry and looked for a new job for seven months after she was laid off. Because she could not find anything, she decided to change careers and signed up for certificate courses via netWORKri. Through the program, she learned how to master her skills in the customer service and call center environment and enter that field.

“I don’t think I could get another job without retraining,” says Platt. “My job was in manufacturing and there just aren’t any manufacturing positions around.”

There are a variety of reasons to go back to school. For one, more than 90 percent of the fastest-growing jobs require individuals to have some form of post-secondary education, so continued education and training are becoming necessary to hold a viable job.

There are also financial incentives for continuing education. On average, those who get a master’s degree earn $31,900 more per year than a high school graduate and the average full-time worker in the U.S. with a bachelor’s degree earns $50,856, which is 58 percent more than a high school graduate. During less prosperous economic times, individuals with higher levels of education are well-protected; for example, people with a bachelor’s degree, on average, had a lower unemployment rate during the recession than those without one.

There are certainly benefits to advancing your education, but what will it cost? While private institutions can cost upward of $30,000 and $40,000 yearly, most adult students do not need room and board and have many responsibilities to juggle. In today’s world of higher education, the overwhelming majority of schools offer online programs, a unique solution that allows the average student the flexibility and affordability to continue his or her education more fluidly.

Removing up-front costs such as room and board, hidden costs such as gas and tolls for transportation and the cost of time spent on a commute, online programs are the best option for many adults who have to work full time. More importantly, they allow students the convenience of being able to handle many responsibilities – work, family, etc. – from anywhere, including their own homes.

Employers may also offer financial help for adults returning to school. Section 127 of the Internal Revenue Code enables employers to give $5,250, which is pre-taxed to pay for tuition reimbursement, books and courses. Companies can also match employee contributions with a 529 plan, which is similar to a 401(k) plan.